Lewandowski, Cancelo lead Barcelona to 3-2 comeback win over Celta with 3 goals in final 10 minutes

23.09.2023 - 20:11 arabnews.com

BARCELONA, Spain: Robert Lewandowski scored two late goals before João Cancelo snatched the 89th-minute winner to lead Barcelona to a 3-2 comeback win over Celta Vigo at home in the Spanish league on Saturday.

Rafa Benítez was eying his first big win since returning to coaching in Spain with his team ahead 2-0 before Lewandowski struck in the 81st minute.

Cancelo then set up Lewandowski to equalize in the 85th before the Portugal right back completed the turnaround. “It was a great fightback,” said Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández, who signed a contract extension through 2025 on Friday. “It is true we were disorganized at times and didn’t make the ball flow like in other games, but the team won in faith and courage.” Barcelona are tied on points with the surprising Girona at the top of the table after their fellow Catalan club routed Mallorca 5-3.

Real Madrid are one point behind both before visiting Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Jorgen Strand Larsen put Celta ahead in the 19th and substitute Anastasios Douvikas made it 2-0 in the 76th while their five-man defense held the defending champions in check — until the final minutes.

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Lionel Messi reacts after winning the Ballon d’Or France Football 2019 trophy at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris on December 2, 2019. 2019 was the year Messi won a record-breaking sixth Ballon d’Or. He has since gone on to win a record-extending seventh Ballon d’Or. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

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